U.S. Flags (U.S. 2022)

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Announced November 1, 2021:

The Postal Service continues its tradition of celebrating the U.S. flag with this stamp, which will be available in panes of 20, booklets of 20, and coils of 100, 3,000 and 10,000. The stamp art is a painting of three flags in a circular formation, reminiscent of the 50 flags encircling the Washington Monument. The artist used three photographs of the same flag taken seconds apart as reference and stitched together the images into a single composition. Laura Stutzman was the stamp designer and illustrator. Ethel Kessler was the art director.

Additional information will be posted below the line, with the newest at the top.

Updated February 9th:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:
• 5654 (58¢) Flags, serpentine die cut 11¼x11, microprinted “USPS” above lower connector on flagpole at left (Banknote printing)
• 5655 (58¢) Flags coil stamp, serpentine die cut 10¾ vert., microprinted “USPS” above lower connector on flagpole at left, stamps not adjacent on coil roll with backing paper taller than stamp (Banknote printing)
• 5656 (58¢) Flags coil stamp, serpentine die cut 11 vert., microprinted “USPS” above lower connector on flagpole at left, stamps adjacent on coil roll with backing paper same height as stamp (Banknote printing)
• 5657 (58¢) Flags coil stamp, serpentine die cut 9½ vert., microprinted “USPS” above lowest blue flag field, stamps adjacent on coil roll with backing paper same height as stamp (Ashton-Potter printing)
• 5658 (58¢) Flags booklet stamp, serpentine die cut 11¼x10¾ , microprinted “USPS” above lower connector on flagpole at left (Banknote printing)
a. Convertible booklet pane of 20
• 5659 (58¢) Flags booklet stamp, serpentine die cut 11¼x10¾ , microprinted “USPS” above lowest blue flag field (Ashton-Potter printing)
a. Convertible booklet pane of 20

Updated December 9th:
Here is the Digital Color Postmark for this issue: It measures 2.95″ x 1.38″. There is no pictorial postmark. Instead, the B&W hand cancel is the FIRST DAY OF ISSUE “killer bar.”

Updated December 3rd:

On January 9, 2022, in Findlay, OH, the United States Postal Service® will issue the U.S. Flags 2022 stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 121700), a PSA Double-sided Booklet of 20 stamps (Item 683600), a PSA Coil of 100 stamps (Item 740400), a PSA Coil of 3,000 stamps (Item 750700), and a PSA Coil of 10,000 stamps (Item 760900). This stamp will go on sale nationwide January 9, 2022, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

The Postal Service™ continues its tradition of celebrating the U.S. flag with this new stamp in panes of 20, booklets of 20, and coils of 100, 3,000, and 10,000. The stamp art is a painting of three flags in a circular formation, reminiscent of the 50 flags encircling the Washington Monument. The artist used three separate photographs of the same flag taken seconds apart as reference and stitched together the images into a single composition. Laura Stutzman was the stamp designer and illustrator. Ethel Kessler was the art director.

  • Item 121700, U.S. Flags 2022 (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail rate), Pane of 20 Stamps: No automatic distribution.
  • Item 683600, U.S. Flags 2022 (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail rate), Booklet of 20 Stamps: No automatic distribution.
  • Item 740400, U.S. Flags 2022 (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail rate), Coil of 100 Stamps: No automatic distribution.
  • Item 750700, U.S. Flags 2022 (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail rate), Coil of 3,000 Stamps: No automatic distribution.
  • Item 760900, U.S. Flags 2022 (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail rate), Coil of 10,000 Stamps: No automatic distribution.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™ or at The Postal Store® website at usps.com/shop. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

FDOI – U.S. Flags 2022 Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by May 9, 2022.

Technical Specifications – Pane of 20:

Issue: U.S. Flags 2022 Stamp
Item Number: 121700
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 9, 2022, Findlay, OH 45840
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Laura Stutzman, Mountain Lake Park, MD
Illustrator: Laura Stutzman, Mountain Lake Park, MD
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Gallus RCS
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 50,000,000
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in./18.542 x 21.336 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in./22.098 x 24.892 mm
Pane Size (w x h): 5.35 x 4.93 in./135.89 x 125.222 mm
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Plate Size: 120 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in four corners
Back: ©2021 USPS • Barcode • USPS Logo • 2 barcodes (121700) • Plate position diagram (6) • Promotionl text

Technical Specifications — Booklet of 20 APU:

Issue: U.S. Flags 2022 Stamp
Item Number: 683600
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 9, 2022, Findlay, OH 45840
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Laura Stutzman, Mountain Lake Park, MD
Illustrator: Laura Stutzman, Mountain Lake Park, MD
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 1,000,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in./18.542 x 21.336 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in./22.098 x 24.892 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 5.52 x 1.96 in./140.208 x 49.784 mm
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Plate Size: 1040 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header: “U.S. FLAGS”, 20 First-Class Forever Stamps • ©2021 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • USPS Logo • Promotional text • Plate number in peel strip area

Technical Specifications — Booklet of 20 BCA:

Issue: U.S. Flags 2022 Stamp
Item Number: 683600
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 9, 2022, Findlay, OH 45840
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Laura Stutzman, Mountain Lake Park, MD
Illustrator: Laura Stutzman, Mountain Lake Park, MD
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Booklet: 20
Print Quantity: 1,000,000,000
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block Tagged
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in./18.542 x 21.336 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in./22.098 x 24.892 mm
Full Booklet Size (w x h): 5.52 x 1.96 in./140.208 x 49.784 mm
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Plate Size: 960 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings: Header. “U.S. FLAGS”, 20 First-Class Forever Stamps • ©2021 USPS in peel strip area • Barcode • USPS Logo • Promotional text • Plate number in peel strip area

Technical Specifications — Coil of 100 APU:

Issue: U.S. Flags 2022 Stamp
Item Number: 740400
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Coil of 100 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 9, 2022, Findlay, OH 45840
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Laura Stutzman, Mountain Lake Park, MD
Illustrator: Laura Stutzman, Mountain Lake Park, MD
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Coil: 100
Print Quantity: 1,625,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.84 x 0.73 in./21.336 x 18.542 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.98 x 0.87096 in./24.892 x 22.122 mm
Plate Size: 744 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by four (4) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate number every 31st stamp below stamp image

Technical Specifications — Coil of 100 BCA:

Issue: U.S. Flags 2022 Stamp
Item Number: 740400
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Coil of 100 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 9, 2022, Findlay, OH 45840
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Laura Stutzman, Mountain Lake Park, MD
Illustrator: Laura Stutzman, Mountain Lake Park, MD
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Coil: 100
Print Quantity: 1,625,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in./18.542 x 21.336 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in./22.098 x 24.892 mm
Plate Size: 744 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate number every 31st stamp below stamp image

Technical Specifications — Coil of 3,000:

Issue: U.S. Flags 2022 Stamp
Item Number: 750700
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Coil of 3,000 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 9, 2022, Findlay, OH 45840
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Laura Stutzman, Mountain Lake Park, MD
Illustrator: Laura Stutzman, Mountain Lake Park, MD
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Coil: 3,000
Print Quantity: 15,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in./18.542 x 21.336 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in./22.098 x 24.892 mm
Plate Size: 540 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate number every 27th stamp below stamp image

Technical Specifications — Coil of 10,000:

Issue: U.S. Flags 2022 Stamp
Item Number: 760900
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Coil of 10,000 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 9, 2022, Findlay, OH 45840
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Laura Stutzman, Mountain Lake Park, MD
Illustrator: Laura Stutzman, Mountain Lake Park, MD
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Coil: 10,000
Print Quantity: 100,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper, Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.73 x 0.84 in./18.542 x 21.336 mm
Stamp Size (w x h): 0.87 x 0.98 in./22.098 x 24.892 mm
Plate Size: 540 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Coil Number Frequency: Plate number every 27th stamp below stamp image

23 thoughts on “U.S. Flags (U.S. 2022)”

  1. What are your thoughts on how many flag scott numbers? I was think all the coils from BCA would have the same number, but then I see they have different tagging, so maybe the coil of 100 would also have a different microprint? Thoughts?

    • First, I don’t try to guess the catalogue numbers. Scott editors work in strange and mysterious ways. 🙂 However, I’d expect separate numbers for each printer’s sheet, coil and booklet formats; and if there are recognizable differences (such as tagging), then different numbers for those varieties, too, although those might be capital or lowercase letters (such as 9999A or 9999a).

    • The Scott Catalogue labels the tagging under every stamp as XXXXa ….. tagged. The tagged stamps don’t have a separate number. As for the numbering, it says that the stamp comes in six varieties. A BCA coil, pane and booklet and AP booklet and coil. I don’t see pane for AP though.😕

      • I don’t see pane for AP though

        Just a guess, but I don’t think the pane format is that popular. Non-collectors I see buying stamps at a post office usually say, “Gimme a book of stamps.” The coils are used by small-run mailers, I believe.

        • Well for one, I thought that the reason why the pane is only from one printer it is because it is an ATM. However, after 2017 there was no ATM varieties. If I recall correctly, the USPS abandoned ATM varieties and decided to focus on issuing stamps for vending machines, which have no perforations of any kind. So, I am still confused regarding the “possibility of six” varieties, if I counted only five. It can’t be that coil of 3,000 be different from coil of 10,000 if it comes from the same printer?🤔 The coil of a 100 is from AP and the coils of 3,000 and 10,000 are both BCA.

          • I believe in the past, Scott has issued different numbers for the 3,000- and 10,000-stamp coils, but this isn’t my area of expertise. Also, don’t gauge popularity by what stamp collectors want. These stamps are for mailers, individuals and small businesses. By the latter, I mean one- to three-people in an office, sending out invoices and other notices (which would not have the quantity or uniformity to qualify for a “presort” rate). My dentist, for example, sends out postcards to remind us of the need to make appointments. I doubt if he or his administrator send out more than a dozen at a time.

        • As for it being not popular, I don’t know. I do see a lot of backlash for panes though, despite the fact that I managed to collect some for the 2002, 2006, and 2007 US flags and the 2007 ATM pane of Liberty Bell. By small-run mailers you mean small business? I need to assume this is what you meant. I receive a ton of bulk mail majority of which have pressorted standard/non profit org or postcard rate coil stamps.

        • So, if I get a coil stamp on an envelope how would I know if it came from a 3,000 or 10,000 row?

    • There was never a ceremony for any definitive stamps, including the flag. However, I personally loved 2013-2014 flag stamps so much that I wished there would have been one.😀

  3. I asked this same question for the 4¢ Blueberries coil stamp but the same situation exists for the 3 flags coil stamps in coils of 3000 and coils of 10,000.

    The latest issue of Linn’s Weekly lists coil strips of 25 taken from coils of 3000 as skew # 350703 from the USPS and coils strips of 25 taken from coils of 10,000 as skew #360903. Both numbers prove invalid on the USPS order system website.

    How does one go about ordering lesser quantities of the two large (3000 and 10,000) coils of the 3 flags from BCA

    • You forgot the coil of a 100. Sorry, I don’t work for USPS so my knowledge regarding your issue might be of no use here. Have you tried altering numbers?

      • Coils of 100 always abutt one another along the die cuts. In the past coils of 3000 and coils of 10,000 (although identical have different #’s have always been identically placed on their strips) have a spacing between the stamps. Since coils are generally saved by collectors as pairs (or multiples). Most albums show coils as pairs not singles. I was able to order and receive the coil of 100 from APU however the BCA version was not a valid # to order. My suspicions are that the BCA DS booklets and BCA coils of 100 will become available later on. Hopefully the strips from the coils of 3K and 10K will also follow. For the 4 cent stamps … we’ll, we’ll just have to wait and see but strips of 500 from coils of 3K is not overly costly it’s still a pain. I like the strips of 25 as have been the norm in the past.

        • I don’t know. I put a single coil stamp in my album. I don’t need to stuff my pockets with pairs or multiple duplicates.

          • Misha: The reason for collecting coil pairs is because people like to try to cheat by cutting the perforations off the top and bottoms of stamps from panes and try to pass them off as coil stamps. By collecting coil pairs, there is no doubt that the stamps are true coil stamps. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t collect stamps the way you prefer to collect.

    • PNC Strips for POSTMASTER – ONECO CT 06373 For the 4c stamps, minimum order a Strip-30. for the FOREVER stamps, minimum order of 20. ( $11.60 ) Specify if you want a PNC#, and/or different Back-numbers. ( Strips of 10 ) Mailed back to you at No Charge for S/H and a SASE for your next order.

    • You can order a strip of 25 with plate number for the BCA coil of 3000 by using USPS order # 750703. You can order a strip of 25 with plate number for the coil of 10,000 by using USPS 760903. I am waiting for my order to be delivered. The USPS doesn’t seem to be offering a strip of 25 with plate number from the roll f 100 for either the APU or BCA coils.

  4. US Flags pane of 20 – Scott #5654
    US Flags BCA coil of 3000/10000 – Scott #5655
    US Flags BCA coil of 100 – Scott #5656
    US Flags AP coil of 100 – Scott #5657
    US Flags BCA convertible booklet single – Scott #5658
    US Flags BCA convertible booklet of 20 – Scott #5658a
    US Flags AP convertible booklet single – Scott #5659
    US Flags AP convertible booklet of 20 – Scott #5659a

  8. Could some supply the plate numbers for all 3 coil versions please, cannot seem to find that out.

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